Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Feb. 18, 1930.. ,1. F. o CONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Ma 12. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Patented Feb. 1 8, 1930 UNITED STATES FATE JOHN IE. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO,II1LINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. 'H. MINER, INQ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FRICTION SHOCK-ABSOBBING MECHANISM Application filed May 12, 1928. Serial No. 277,266.

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism, including a casing, open at one end, providing a spring cage member having projecting wall sections at the open end, a strong metal shell telescoped with said sectionand lockedto the same by anchoring liners defining opposite 19 side walls of a friction shell section of the casing, friction means cooperating with the liners, and a spring resistance yieldingly opposing inward movement of the friction system with respect to the friction shell, the 5 shell having means thereon for holding the friction system assembled with the other parts of the mechanism. j

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined friction shell and'spring cage for friction shock absorbing mechanisms, comprising a casing adapted to accommodate the spring resistance of a friction shock absorbing mechanism composed of friction elements and wedge means, and a 2-3 shell detachably connected to the casing, and

interior liners having means thereon for anchoring the shell to the casing, the liners being provided with interior friction surfaces with which the friction means of the shock absorbing mechanism cooperates, the liners being held in looking position by the spreading force exerted by the wedge means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mecha nism, including a casing, open at one-end, a shell partly telescoped with the open end section of the casing and detachably secured thereto, interior liners presenting opposed held against movement longitudinally of the mechanism, friction shoes and wedge means,

friction surfaces, friction means including movable friction elements, friction members.

held against outward movement through shouldered engagement with the ribsof the shell. 7

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal, longitudinal, sectional View of a portion of the underframe structure of a railway car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 isav front end elevational view of the combined springcage and friction shell of my improvedmechanism. Figure 3 is a vertical, transverse, sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line it-4e of Figure 1. And Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of a fixed friction member employed in connection with my improvements.

In said drawings, -10 indicate the usual channel-shaped center or draft sills of the railway car underframe, to the inner sides of which are secured front stop lugs l111 and rear stop lugs 1212. The inner end portion of the coupler shank is 'designated by 13, to which is operatively connected; a hooded yoke 14 My, improved shock absorbing mechanism and a' front main follower 15 are disposed within the yoke and the able saddle plate 16, secured to the draft sills.

My improved shock absorbing mechanism comprises, broadly, a casing A and a-detach-' able shell B, forming a combined friction yoke is, in turn, supported by a detach shell and spring cage; two liners CC; a

main wedge D; two friction shoes EE; two longitudinally disposed, relatively fixed friction members F 'F; two longitudinally dis-, posed, movable friction elements (J'rG-; a spring follower H; and two spring resistance elements J and K. V

The casing A is in the form of a substantially rectangular box-like member having relatively thick longitudinally disposed, spaced side walls 1717, top and bottom longitudinally disposed, spaced walls 1818,, and a vertical, transverse end wall 19." The end Wall 19 cooperates withthe rear stop lugs 4o ashereinafter'more clearly pointed out.

indicated at 20.- j

' The reduced sections of the sidewalls are formed by cutting avvaythe outer sides of the walls 17'. Thetop and bottorn'walls 18 are i also reduced in thickness at the'outer ends,

as indicated at 21 21,the walls'18 beingeX terio'rly cut away-,as sh'own,;-to provide these reduced sections. As will beclear upon reference to Figures 1 and 4, the wall sections2l are shorter than the wall sections 20, the front edge portions of the wall sections 21 forming vertically disposed, transversely extending 1111161. stop shoulders '22'22, as hereinafter" moreclearly described. 7 As shown invrFigure {1,the top andbottom walls 18 of the casing Ame inwardly 'oifset adjacent the wall, sections 211130 reinforcethe latter; 7 [gThe jshellB is also in the form of a sub- A stantially; rectangular box-1ike casing, open at the opposite ends, The shell B is formed by vertically disposed, spaced, side walls 2323 and horizontally disposed, spaced, top

" and bottom walls Q4"2 {1. The walls of the shellBare'relatively heavy, asshown, and- A the shell i s 1 preferably formed .of strong metal, and may be constructed of alloy steel, which 'isheat treated The side walls 23 of the shellB are interiorly cutaway at the inner ends, as indicated at 25-7-25, to telescopixcally receive .the reduced sidewall sections 20z20 at the forward end of the casing'A.

The top and bottom.walls '24= of the shell B arealso interiorly cut away, as most clearly illustrated; in Figure 5t, thereby providing transversely disposed, inwardly projecting ribs or flanges 2626 at thBsOUtBT- end of the V shell,th.ese ribs acting as outer limiting steps, I

. ly disposed, flat friction surface 33 on the :Upo'n reference to Figures 1- and 4, it will beseenthat the. shell 13 tightly fits the outer faces'of the walls of the reduced section of the shell; B and has the inner end thereofv abute tingthe transverse fa'ce's'formed by cutting "away the front endof the casing A. 'As

I shown Figure 1,'t he inner surfaces of thefrontend portionsof the side walls 23'0fthe shell B are flush with the inner surfaces of the reduced wall sections 20 of the casing A,

, thereby presenting a continuous bearing surposed. at opposite sides of the casing A and shellB. Each liner is in the form sofa heavy face for the outer side ofthe corresponding 1 The liners C are two in number-and are disrectangular plate, [having a longitudinally disposed friction-surface at the i'nner side thereof. Each: plate C'is of alength corre-.

spondingtothe lengtho-f' the shell Band is provided with a laterally projecting securing lugQ'Z on the outer side thereof, spaced slightly front the inner end of the plate. These: I curing'lug 27 is ojf-s-uch a length asto extend blunt wedge .faces.

entirely through the reducedwall section of the casing A and into the corresponding side wall 23 of the shell B. The walls 20 are provided with openings 28 extending entirely therethrough, adapted to accommodate the lugs 27, and thewalls 23-of the'shell B are provided with, recesses 29 on the inner sides thereof, adapted to receive the extremities of the lilgs 27. The lugs 27 and the openings'28, andthe recesses 29 are so proportioned as to "provide a snug fit, so that the liners willbe anchored againstlon-gitudinal movement with T respect to the -combined frictionshell and spring cage, and the shell B [will be locked to thecasing A against longitudinal displacement;

The wedge member Dfis in the formof a block having a flatfront endfacezwhich bears directly ontheinner-sideof the front main 'followe'ri15. At the inner end, the wedge block Djis providedwith a pair-ofinwardly converging "wedge faces 30 "and '31.. ,As

shown, the wedge face 30 is disposed ata blunter anglfe with respect to the longitudi- A nal axis of the mechanism than the wedge face 31; As shown in Figure 4, the inner end. portion of thewedge block Dis provided with. top and bottom enlargements 82,32 which fit between the top and bottom walls of the r shell B and present transversely disposed front abutment; shoulders which are adapted to engage in back of the ribs 26 of theshe'll B, to therebylimit outward movement of the wedge block and hold the same assembled with thecombined friction'shell and spring cage.

The two friction sho es E'are disposed at Each shoe E is provided with a longitudinalthe front side thereof, The wedge .face'of',

the shoe E which cooperates with the wedge face 30 of the wedgeblockD is designated by 3 5, and the wedge face-of the block E which cooperates with the wedge face 31 offthe' wedge block D is designated by 36.

ice. I

opposite sides ofthewedge and are of similar design, except as hereinafter pointed' out.

As clearly shown ingFigure 1, the wedge face 35 is'corre'spondin'gly inclined to the wedge faceSO, and the wedgeface 36, which is di'sposedat a relatively keen wedging angle, is correspondingly inclined to the wedge face 31. .By the arrangement of blunt and keen wedge faces provided, proper: wedging action is assured through'the' keen wedge faces durln-g compression of the mechanism, and release s facllltated by the cooperating.

; The friction members F are disposed at, V

opposite sidesofthe wedge blocks E and are plates.

plates having top and bottom flanges.37-37 pro ecting on the opposite sides thereof. The inner sides of the flanges overhang the friction shoes E and guide the same in their longitudinal movement and prevent contact of the friction shoes with the top and bottom walls 21 of the casing; The outer sides of the flanges 37 overhang the movable friction elements G and guide these elements in their longitudinal movement, holding the same out ofengagement with the top and bottom walls of the casing A. As shown in Figure 5, the flange sections 37 are shorter than the plate sections of the friction members F, being offset inwardly from the front ends of the,

The flange I sections 37 engage between the transverse ribs or flanges 26 of the shell B and the stop shoulders 22 formed by the front edges of the top and bottom walls 21 of the casing A. The members F are thus anchored against longitudinal movement with respect to the combined frictionshell K and. spring cage, while lateral displacement of the same is permitted. The plate sections of the members F present friction surfaces on the opposite sides thereof, the friction surfaces onthe inner sides of the plates being indicated by 38. I

As shown in Figure 1, the friction surfaces 38 0f the plates are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the'mechanism and correspondlng frlction member F. As shown converge inwardly. In this connection, it is pointed out that the cooperating friction surfaces 33 of the friction shoes are correspondingly inclined.

The friction elements G, which are two in number, are interposed between the friction members F and'the liners C. Each friction elementG is in the form of a substantially rectangular plate of greaterlength than the in the normal position of the parts, the front ends of the friction elements G are spaced from the inner side of the main follower 15 and the inner ends bear directly on the spring follower H, while the inner ends of the friction members F are. spaced an appreciable distance from said spring follower.

The spring follower H isin the form of a heavy rectanguular plate, havinga central opening 39 which isfof greater size than the diameter of the coil of the inner spring resistance J and is adapted to loosely receive the front end portion of said coil.

The main spring resistance K, which is heavier than the spring resistance J, surrounds the latter and is interposed between the spring follower H and the rear end wall 19 of the casing A. The springresistance J is interposed directly between the enlargements of the friction shoes E and the inner end wall 19 of the casing A, the same being held in centered position by an inwardly projecting lug 40 on the end wall 19 which engages within said coil. The front end portion of the coil extends freely'through the opening 39 of the spring follower H, as hereinbefore pointed out.

The parts of the mechanismfare so proportioned that when assembled the main spring resistance elements J and Kareunder an 1n1t1al compression, thereby maintaining the wedge and friction elements in their outermost positlon and compensating for wear. ofthe same. Y

exteriorly with the walls'20 and 21 of the easingA. .l/Vhen thus assembled, the liners C are forced outwardly to engage the extremities of the lugs 27 within the recesses 29 of the side walls 23 of the shell, and the movable friction elements G are inserted in position between the fixed friction members F'and the liners C. When thus assembled, it will be evident that the expansive action of the spring J, which forces theshoes intoengagement with the wedge faces of the wedge block D, will cause spreadingapart of the shoes,

a in assembling my lmproved shock-absorb mg mechanism, the sprlng resistance elements" placing the friction members F and thefrio, I

tion elements G under lateral pressure, forcing thesame laterally outwardly against the liners C and holding the latter seated on the inner sides of the walls of theshell Band the casing A, thereby maintaining the locking lugs 27 engaged with the recesses 29 of the shell B and securing th'e'shell in fixed relation with the casing A.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism, in either a bufiing or draft action, isas follows :The front follower 15 and the casing A will be moved relatively toward each other, thereby forcingthe wedge block D inwardly, carrying the friction shoes E'therewith, while subjecting the same tolateral spreading action. During the inward movement of the frlctlon shoes E, the same lll) will slip on the friction surfaces of the longitudinally fixed friction members F. During front ends of the friction elements G has been taken up, the latter will be forced inwardly, sliding on the friction surfaces of the fric tion members F and the liners G. Inasmuch as the follower H is spaced from the -inner.

: ends of thei'fnctio n plates G, after the mean ni s'm has been eompres'sed,the sprin s J a'nd- K Will both'act to release the friction wedge means by, forcingthe friction shoesfand wedge block D eutwardl during the-first part ofthe releasing action. Release is thus 'g'reatly faci'litated because the frictionwedge system is forced outwardly during the initial releasing action independently of the plates G. In case thejplates Gr should not release Qi-mm'ediately when engaged by the spring follower; further outward movement offthe friction :shoesand thewedge block D is eiiected by the expansion of the spring resistance.

- As will be evident, d to theme some ti'o'n surfaces of the friction members F con-'- ver'gi'ngj inwardly, the releasing action be-I tween the" friction shoes and thesemembers is greatly facilitated! jWhe'n the inechanism has -been fully com-.

' pressed,"inw ard' movement of the main. 01

lower with respectjto the 1 casing 'A is limited byenga'gement of the main follower with the outerendbf the. shell 13, the shell B and fc'asing 1A thus acting as a solid column 7 load-transmitting member to transmitthe actuating force directly to the stop lugs of the draftfsills. 30.

During release; the initial expansion of the springs :J and will force the friction shoes andfwedge block D outwardly until the spring follower H'eng-ages the inner ends of it i the friction elements G, whereupon the latter will be carried outwardly also... Outward j movement of the wedgetblock D is finally -what Ieonsider the preferred' 'manner of limited by engagement of the enlargements 32 with the ribs-26jof the shell B. VVh en fully released, the parts williassume the position illustrated in Figure '1.

'While I have herein shown and "described carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate allchanges and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

, I claim e 1. In a combined friction shell and spring cage for friction shock absorbing mecha-V nisms, includingfriction means and. a main spring resistance; thecombination with a 1 c'asi-ng-openat one -end,.adapted to house the casing."

main spring resistance; of a shell partly telesc'oped exteriorly with said open end section. ofthe casing; liners presenting opposed friction-su'rfaces disposed within the open end section of the casing and providedwi'th an 'choring members extending I through the walls of said open 'end' sect-ion and inter-i locked with the shell to iii); the same tothe 2.111 a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the" combination with a casing open at one endfprovidinfg a spring cage member ;fof a heavy shelltelescoped with said a open. end

inner coil J of the s ig r' im ise Y section of the casing; epposed'liner 's disposed ithin the open end section of theeasing, said liners having anchoring lugs anchored to the walls o'fthe casin and extending "therethrough in .interl ekingirelation with the bottom walls of the shelldefining the ir iction shell proper'of the mechanism; movable trim 7 411011 means cooperat ng wlth the llner-sf; and

spreading inc-ans for pl'ac ng'said movable mean-S underlateml p ureand forcing the Same against t ers to hold sald liners 1n anchored p 's1t10n i.

-23. In a friction shock absorbing in'e'ch'a nisni, the combinationwith a casing open at one end, said casing at said 'open e-nd having the'walls thereof reduced-in thickness; of a heavy shell telescoped exteriorly with said a l v a v- A 3' shell,-sa1d liners together with the' t'o'p and v reduced mu section's',' said shell being of I greater length thansaidreduced wall-sea tio'ns; opposed liners bearing on the inner sides of the walls of aidshell and'the walls of the open end section ofthe casing; means I on said liners extending through the reduced wall sections of said casing -and i nto the I walls of said shell, to 'fix' the shell to the casing; frictionnieans cooperating with the shell; spread ng means for placlng the'friction means under laterahpressure for holding open at one end; ofafsjhell telescoped with said casing, said shell havinginterior-"front limiting shoulders; friction means within the shell, including movable and relatively fixed 7 elements, certain of said elements --having their outward movement limited bysaid-liiniting shoulders and the fiXed-elements'having resistance meansfiwith in the shouldered engagement with said-limiting shoulders and with the outeriedge's of the top and bottom walls of the casing, to hold said 7 elements against move'ment longitudinally of the mechanism; and spring resistance means within the casing. V, r p I l 5. In a fricti'on shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with" a-"cg'tsing having b013,.b0t't01fi and side walls, said casing being open at one fend -the top, bottom and side walls being reduced in thickness at said open end; of a shellihaving top, bottom and side walls, said shell being open -at both ends, the

walls at the inner end of the shell being in:

teriorlyicut away, the cut-away section of said-shell being telescoped with'the-re'duced,

Wall sectionof thecasing, the inner surfaces ofthe side walls ofthe shell and theinner 7 surfaces .ofthe side wall of the casing being flush when the shell and casing arej iassembled; plate-like liners engaged" with the in open end sectionSo'f-the "casing, isaidliners terior side wall portions of saidshell and f having laterally outwardly projecting anchoring lugs extending through the telescoped side Wall sections of thecasing and shell to lock the shell to the casing; friction means cooperating with said liners; a spreading element cooperating with said friction means; and a spring resistance Within the casing.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of May, 1928.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

